Chapter III: Economic horror
Part II: ..And even everyone..
The Sun was busy warming the ground when adventurers decided to stop near a big lake. The tongue barrier prevented friends from taking bearings for a moment, but they quickly found out where they needed to continue their path. However, even with the signs, it is easy to get confused here.
Who in their right mind would name the lake "Oil"? Only here that the famous whisker-fish are present, that is true. But that is not the only achievement of this place. Two villages, built side by side to this lake and each other, are also famous for their conflicts. The title twisting on the roads is worth mentioning alone.
Quarrels are not surprising. After all, both hamlets are trying to do the same stuff. Even though Coltboat appeared earlier, it is closer and they sell fish products cheaper, Fishdale is still being up to par in wealth and well-being. True, it is set closer to towns on the south side of Equestria..
But was it the only reason for success? South is also occupied by a seaport city, with marches souring in between them. Their presence does not raise Fishdale on Hub's level, and anything more supportive to their existence is yet to be seen. Except, probably the fierce rivalry.
In any case, the town was still along friends' way - the only road that leads far enough from Canterlot, is going through those two hamlets. So why should companions not stop and look at all the problems, all the merits of those two villages, while they walked through them?
And while at it, one could buy something useful for the adventure! The market, coincidentally, was the path itself - all the stalls and shops were present on the main road, and so the friends could look at all the wonders sold in Coltboat while they walk. Alas, but only look.
Even though horned creatures left some coin to adventurers, it is not enough even for stale hay! Ponies obviously cannot eat meat, and cheap fish would be no use for them, but how do other ponies survive out here? All the grass nearby is chewed off already, and nobody else even tried to grow anything.
— Why is everything so expensive here? - Sunshine shifted her head to the side in confusion.
— Taxes! - complained some merchant - Probly neighbours screwed us over. Always expect trouble from dem, ye should!
— Neighbours? Why do you think it's their fault?
— Dey always stir de pot! Fishs in oure lake, walk on oure roads, breathe oure airs! We came 'ere first, 'tis all oures..!
No matter how much the winged pony asked, everyone had one and only story - Fishdale is guilty of all the sins, even the bad weather and unjust decisions from Canterlot. Not a single pony could tell anything else - each of them is obsessed with fighting. Maybe, their neighbours are a little different?
Probably only with a range of goods. Except for fish, products out of fish and even more fish, many traders offered real leather and noseys. But where are they keeping those? What do the pigs with trunks do out here? They should graze somewhere, or search and eat some trash.. This way, they are useless, as they are idling. And wilding.
In one moment, one long-nose pig even jumped at its owner. Luckily, it was quickly pacified and skinned. So quickly, as if this is nothing new, and such betrayals happen often. However, nobody treated them like commodities, like dumb livestock. Is it possible they are moved by boredom?
They are certainly not driven by hunger - noseful beasts can eat anything, literally. And the settlers have so much fish, that in a few years of such aggressive fishing, the lake might get completely empty. The hunger moves the townsfolk, not some other way, but they are not trying to lower the prices for newcomers. Seems like they are not hungry enough.
Because Sunshine is losing her mind - her stomach wants more, but the friends have none. The mare wanted to eat so hard, that she greedily looked over everything edible. At this rate, the pony will chew her own bags and snack with wool. Yet nobody was bothered by the dying adventurer's fate.
Nobody even wanted to take the last scraps off of them! Ponies around were not even looking at the company, until they paid attention to the selling goods. The greed surrounded citizens so fiercely, that the sun horse and her loud stomach were perceived as something granted; a background.
Except, probably, only a nearby filly. Little villager is the only being, other than friends, who was bothered by another creature's bad luck! There is nothing else around - no thieves, no suspicious folk, so where can others actually spend their attention? Although, there are always heartless neighbours..
— Hi! - little pony blocked the way - You are, probably, hungry?
— Yes. How did you guess?
— It's visible! - filly knocked on the orange mare's peeking ribs - Come with me! You'll get fed, you'll like it!
Not wealthy by the looks, walks in old rags, but offers food? "Poorest are purest. True what they say." - orange one remembered the saying, joyfully walking after the young horse. Who would refuse something free and appetising, especially at a time like this?
The adventurers did not. Opportunists went after this earth pony without a second thought, getting to a quite big house with no smaller fence. Seems like this is the place where locals get their live filth-cleaners. Actually, the owner might not be that poor..
But nothing should be judged by the looks, right? These friends have not done so, and that is what sets them apart from the rest. Not to mention that they could defend themselves if the need arises, and so they walked inside, after the kind little pony. Friends have never seen anything like this before..
Inside, the place seemingly has not differed from any tavern's outside. As if only the roof was set, and that was it; not even a carpet or a bedsheet to rest! Lots of tables, strange hooks hanging with meat and leather.. A very real slaughterhouse inside someone's hut.
Why would someone turn their house into something so disturbing? Was there no spare coin to erect an outbuilding for? It is impossible to live here - the smell alone leads the mind to an exit. But the travellers kept their composure, tried to behave politely. They have not even met the owner.
And he did not even notice the guests. Only when the little one took him away from work, that he paid attention to the outsiders. At first he freaked out at the sight of guests, but quickly came back to his senses and calmed down. Seems like the stallion was not expecting to see anyone while he worked.
— Whatchu want? Yer here to feed?
— Yes. Your daughter-
— She's not me daughter. But very good helper though, she is. - the butcher pointed at a far table near some door - 'Tis all there. Dig in!
However, the stall near the doorway contained only meat. Does he really want for ponies to eat what they cannot digest? Or were all those stories actually fictional, and he broke this myth? In any case, better ask first, since who would want to suffer after feasting? Some folk are resisting even vegetables..
— But ponies can't eat others! How are we-
— Why can't we? - little pony swallowed a small piece of an animal - We can!
— But-
— The moment me took her, fed her with meats. And what of it? Happy and healthy!
Who would sacrifice their own health for a fraud, not to mention the health of a younger generation? Nothing bad did happen to the little horse indeed, and the sunny pony decided to get closer to the offered treat, despite very obnoxious smell and look.
The moment that the mare decided to taste the red bit, she was interrupted by strange noises from the room next door. So strange, that any desire to eat simply vanished. Behind the wall, someone seemingly banged their head, wailed, and ran around at the same time. Winged pony's curiosity reached its peak:
— What's happening there? Is someone ill?
— Nay! Aye! - earth pony panicked - Can't go there! Ther's.. f-fucking, cattle!
The stallion have not lied. Cattle did indeed live there. More precisely, cattled ponies. Everyone had lifeless eyes, all did something unbelievably grotesque and illogical, and each reacted to everything with their bare instincts and silly cries. Like mindless animals.
Those horses feared light, tried to walk through logs, and something seemingly untouchable troubled them. Something, that they endlessly tried to run away from, but simply could not do so. Poor horses actually ran in circles in search of a way out, as if they were bewitched. Until the winged horse resented it out loud.
— Are you insane?! - Sunshine slammed the door - What have you done to them?
— 'Tis ye in future! Got to make a livin' somehoe! Fish's nay enough to feed on, nay! ..A-and 'tis not yer bloody business!
— ..You lied! You're evil! - little earth pony unexpectedly yelled - You said your family rests there, and that they can't be disturbed!
All of a sudden, little one lunged at her caretaker, and her body caught up in purple flames. Opportunists were going to deal with the murderer themselves, yet she instantly ripped his neck with giant fangs. So that is why she ate meat without consequences!
That is a changeling! Very little, with absurdly long antennas and natural hairs - a very real referent! But what does it do here? Why did it help this stallion? They need to stay in the hive! Even Gambit was not expecting to see such high blood, even though he sensed a bug.
— Wait-wait-wait, you are a changeling?! - surprised the orange pony.
— Yea! Why do you ask? You have one as well!
— Yes, but.. - snowwhite insect forgot that he took the knapsack disguise - Not, so.. such..
— Big-eyed? Big-whiskered? I am so! My name is Ommatidia! What are yours?
— Let's first deal with this.. ugh, nightmare, and then exchange the pleasantries? - offered the long-eared horse, covering her nose with her hoof.
Everything made sense now. Fishdale managed to survive thanks to different kinds of skin and pigs. Noseys took care of evidence, and frightening things of both species' leather went to the stalls. Of which the settlers were probably not aware, judging by well hidden bags with someone's fur and hair.
This also explains pigs' aggression towards hooved beings - they are used to the taste and smell, they do not see the difference between food and their superiors. And the victims of this horror? They are not even realising what hurts them! How can they be helped? Is there a way, reason and hope?
Probably not. Barely alive stallions and mares yelled and thrashed into the door, the moment they heard the commotion behind the wall. Ah, if only there was some kind of spell, able to return the consciousness to them.. Nobody talks about consuming meat for a reason, though.
The team left this terrifying shelter. A little more, and the hooved creatures would totally turn inside-out. Even the snowwhite bug felt uncomfortably, even though it is very unnatural for shapeshifters. Finally, all of this can be left behind, and friends can simply leave..
— ..No! We have to tell others about this! - red-eyed mare stomped with her hooves - They will get what happened anyway, but this way we'll explain and help them immediately!
— What if it does not work out? - doubted the insectoid - Monacolt was a failure. And here?
— Exactly! They were led by their noses and dumbed, and here? We'll make it!
— ..He's evil! They were also evilled! - voiced long-whiskered bug - We can try unevil them, so it won't happen again!
Although thoughts differed a lot, friends wanted to help others from the start. And what would happen, if one endlessly runs away? This is probably how princesses behave, but certainly now how those adventurers do! However, they should not forget about experience - they need a plan, or history will repeat itself.
Good thing that at least preparations were decided and worked on unanimously. While weakened creatures rested and gathered their strength, chitin beings found some edible food for them in the same house. Fanged insects also took the proof of those horrors, barely evading the diseased ones.
Only thing left to do is gathering folk and telling them about everything. Whiskered referent can help in this difficult task, but the main burden lies on the sun horse. It is she who had to persuade the townsfolk. Thankfully, those scraps were enough to endure the incoming brainstorm.
All is ready. Displeased, distracted from mundanity crowd gradually gathered near the swineherd's dwelling. When all the Fishdale's inhabitants appeared on the hill, Dalliant showed them horse meat and skin. Above her hovered orange pony, commenting this nightmare:
— You know him, and he knew you! He provided you with noseys and unusual amount of varied leather. You were tricked! He killed ponies and made his future goods out of them! - big-eared horse continued after an escalating pause - Ponies cannot eat meat, but he consciously fed it to especially hungry ponies! They turned into cattle, and this butcher's horrors still walk inside his home..!
The crowd did not believe such sharp statements much, but doubts still crawled into every head. Why are there less inhabitants in Fishdale, than they have windows in their huts? Why do the regular customers disappear so often? It is logical - the stallion simply used the lack of provisions and abundance of naivety!
— How'd ye prove it? - someone yelled from the crowd - Wha if 'tis pig skin?
— Pigs always have only pink skin! Yet he has grey ones, and..! You can go inside and witness it yourselves, if you need more pr-
— An' so what? - continued someone else - He helped us stae afloat, deese bastards from Coltboat starve us oute!
— You could have learned how to farm and feed yourselves, even right now you can sell everything in Hub for a normal price! - raged winged mare - But you are not doing it, you are sitting put on the same spot and whining that life is bad! You don't act at all, just like your neighbours!
— We'r not sittin', we'r standin'! ..And not whinin', but angrin'!
— Ye dunnoe hoe things work! Nay judge nor judged ye'll be! Pah, ye ploughin'..!
The public cherished itself. Nobody wanted to hear the words of truth! Quite expected, but friends were not going to give up! Companions below have not shown an ounce of fear, and disguised Ommatidia even stepped forward. Maybe, others will hear at least her?
— We can all be friends together, why are you-
— Yer too little to think 'bout these things! Who the hay is she to tell us what to do?
— ..Are you actually stupid?! - resented the red-eyed one - You constantly compare yourself to your neighbours, you compare me with someone else right now and draw early conclusions! How can one learn, how can you earn experience, if you won't judge and compare? Or just because I'm not a local, you-
— Oi! Why ye bein' smarts? How'd ye know this? ..She's watches us! Wha if she's a changeling?!
The horde of stallions and mares shouted over each other and chopped down the facts with their collective screaming. Not that this never happened before, but now the crowd specially parodied the overfed victims. A little more, and the majority will jump at the minority. As long as there is an excuse..
— ..Because you are all the same, looks and minds alike! - the horse nearly squealed - You will listen to only what you want to listen to! Is there anyone, just a single one of you who cares; who wants to make peace with other ponies?
— Sod off to acockdemy if ye tossin' deese words! Bliss 's in ignorance, we dun need this heresy in oure heads, nay!
— Aye! We want to live yet! But ye killed us with 'tis shaem alreade! Wha will others say if hear they?
— What'll dey say? - another stallion berserked - We'll kill, an' they won't besay!
And it appeared. Someone from the crowd ran to the sheep and exposed their deformed teeth. Small fangs have not scared Dalliant one bit, and the brown creature simply moved the leg away after getting bit. Nothing left of teeth after doing so, and the blood finally cooked the crowd off.
However, with their last wail, some wailed from inside as an answer. Reinforced room's door finally went down, and the entrance quickly followed the story! In a moment, one loud crowd dispersed another, and adventurers receded behind the dwelling under mass confusion.
But they were not going to be left alone even after! Particularly bright, but no less silly stallions went after the company, deciding to attack at the most cowardly moment! Like true peasants they were, they have not forgotten to grab weapons to this gathering; ones they used to silence and gut the violent pigs.
But what could a couple of stallions do with a pair of agile insects? Of course, the horses had bludgeons and corkscrew knives for mouths, but insectoids could make several of them in any spot on their bodies! Not to mention, they can recreate not only them..
Still, those fools were not guilty of their fate. Reluctance to think is indeed their problem, but who knew about the murderer and his crimes? Do the rowdy rural simpleponies deserve death because of this? Not at all. They only should receive a valuable lesson.
While Sunshine helped Dalliant retreat, Ommatidia and Gambit exhausted the ruffians. The bugs shoved, evaded, frighteningly screamed and simply changed into small little things. How to pierce a very quick butterfly? How can one catch an agile snake in tall grass?
Besotted stallions completely ran out of energy in a few minutes - right when hungry friends walked far enough on the road. They left the stallions' fields of view, but not their friends' gazes - shapeshifters hid themselves in plain sight and returned to them, when the moment allowed them to.
